Home Office

Migrants: Human Rights

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the measures they would need to implement to ensure the UK is compliant with international human rights obligations to migrants in the event of withdrawal from the ECHR.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: Further detail regarding the new legislation to tackle small boats will be set out in due course.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Syria and Turkey: Earthquakes

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government what assistance they are providing to support victims of the earthquake in Turkey and northern Syria.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK responded immediately to provide life-saving support to Turkey and Syria. In Turkey, a UK International Search and Rescue team arrived in Gaziantep on 7 February and commenced operations within the critical 72-hour rescue window. From 14 February, we deployed a world-class UK medical team, field clinic and field hospital to Turkey, which continues to treat patients. In Syria, the UK-aid-funded White Helmets mobilised a major search and rescue effort. We have dispatched thousands of vital items including tents and blankets to Turkey and Syria totalling over 400 tonnes. The Disasters Emergency Committee appeal, now exceeding £93 million, includes £5 million of the UK Aid Match. On 19 February UK Development Minister Mitchell visited Turkey to witness first-hand the impact of UK aid, helping those affected in Turkey and Syria.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Parliamentary Questions

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government whether, given the absence of a sitting Assembly in Northern Ireland, they will answer parliamentary questions on the governance of matters in Northern Ireland for which they areultimately responsible.

Lord Caine: The Government will answer any questions of governance in Northern Ireland that are not devolved. For matters of devolved governance in the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act provides Northern Ireland civil servants with the clarity they require to take the limited but necessary decisions to maintain delivery of public services and operate in the public interest. Any questions relating to devolved matters should therefore be directed to Northern Ireland departments.This Government recognises that this is not an ideal situation and will keep the current governance arrangements, and the accountability measures within these, under review. Ultimately, the best way for Northern Ireland to be governed is by the Northern Ireland devolved institutions. It remains this Government’s priority to work towards restoring these institutions.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government whether legacy practitioners applying on behalf of a family member of a victim to the proposed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery requesting a review of a Troubles death or serious injury will be eligible for legal aid; what annual estimate they have made of the likely cost of such legal aid; and which Northern Ireland department will fund it.

Lord Caine: The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which is continuing its passage through Parliament, places a duty on the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) to carry out reviews of Troubles-related deaths and cases of specified serious injury when requested. The Bill clearly defines which individuals will be able to request a review into a death or serious injury. Requesting a review will not involve entering into a legal process. Legal Aid - which is devolved and delivered by the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland - will therefore not be required when requesting a review.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government how much legal aid has been paid in respect of legacy claims in Northern Ireland in the last five years; and what proportion this represents of the total spending on legal aid in Northern Ireland during that period.

Lord Caine: The UK Government does not hold this information as Justice and legal aid is devolved in Northern Ireland. The Legal Services Agency, an executive agency sponsored by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice, administers the provision of legal aid in Northern Ireland. Information on legal aid expenditure can be found on the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland website.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Immunosuppression

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government when antibody testing in the UK to determine the cohort most at risk from COVID-19 will be introduced; and what assessment they have made of thetesting level of <264 BAU/ml set by the government of France in early 2022to define its at risk group for COVID-19.

Lord Markham: The Department has received an application from a research team to lead a study to establish if antibody testing can identify which immunosuppressed individuals remain at greatest risk of severe COVID-19 infection after vaccinations, and if possible, define testing thresholds for COVID-19 risk. This will aim to improve the understanding of COVID-19 risk in immunosuppressed individuals to inform future advice. We are currently working with the National Institute for Health and Care Research to assess the study proposal. Further information will be provided when details are available. We have made no assessment of the antibody testing threshold level set by the French Government.

NHS: Databases

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government whether NHS England's Data promise 4, as updated on 31 January, is compatible with the Written Answer by Lord Markham on the same day (HL4714).

Lord Markham: I believe the answer given is compatible with NHS England’s Data Promise 4.Specifications will be placed in the Library of the House when they are available.

Huntington's Disease: Health Services

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government how many integrated care systems have established services for Huntington’s disease patients in their local areas.

Lord Markham: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department or NHS England.

Gender Identity Development Service

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to set up a public inquiry into the Gender Identity Development Service for Children (GIDS) at the Tavistock Clinic to establish whether the well-being and safeguarding of children were sufficiently protected.

Lord Markham: The Government has no plans to set up a public inquiry into the Gender Identity Development Service for Children and supports the ongoing Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People currently being carried out by Dr Hilary Cass, also known as the Cass Review. The review is expected to set out findings and make recommendations in relation to pathways of care, clinical models and management, and the use of, and research into the long-time effects of, hormone treatment. The Cass Review published an interim report in March 2022 and is due to conclude by the end of 2023.

NHS Digital: Databases

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government which secure data environment is used by NHS England’s Cohorting as a Service system; and whether this is used by all current cohorting service projects.

Lord Markham: Cohorting uses the same underlying technology platform as NHS England’s Secure Data Environment service. Cohorting is carried out in other national programmes such as screening, which do not use the Cohorting as a Service system. There are forms of cohorting for other purposes such as population health and research; the Cohorting as a Service system is not currently intended to be used for these.

NHS England

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 14 February (HL5455), whether they will direct NHS England to publish the agenda and minutes of its Data, Digital and Technology committee and other board committees, in the interests of transparency.

Lord Markham: There are no plans to direct NHS England to publish the agenda and minutes of its Data, Digital and Technology committee and other board committees. NHS England should consider how best to ensure transparency in its governance arrangements.

Life Sciences: Research

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to deliver on the commitment made in the Life Sciences Vision, published in July 2021, to introduce new treatment possibilities such as novel cell and gene therapies for patients with raregenetic diseases such as haemophilia.

Lord Markham: The Life Sciences Vision sets out how we will accelerate the adoption and uptake of innovative new treatments and technologies, including for rare diseases. The Accelerated Access Collaborative is central to delivering these commitments and has initiatives aimed at accelerating adoption of innovation in the National Health Service.The UK Rare Diseases Framework outlines our priorities in tackling rare diseases such as haemophilia. This includes improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. England’s first Rare Diseases Action Plan sets out actions to achieve this, including developing a strategic approach for gene therapies and other Advanced Therapy Medical Products. Two gene therapies for adults with haemophilia B are expected to be available within the next few years.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Antimicrobials: Drug Resistance

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussionsthey are havingwith water companies to mitigate the risks of antimicrobial resistance.

Lord Benyon: The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency (EA) have been working with the water industry to research the occurrence and transport of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics through wastewater treatment works as part of the industry-funded Chemical Investigations Programme. Investigations have been carried out at 10 sites across the country to understand how the different treatment processes affect the presence and prevalence of particular organisms and resistance genes. The results were published by UK Water Industry Research in February 2023. In addition, the EA has completed a study to look at the amounts of antifungal substances that remain in biosolids as one of the final products of these wastewater treatments. These results will also be published in early 2023. The EA has also been working with water companies on chemicals investigations which have included a range of pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicines discharged from treated sewage effluent which might contribute to AMR. This work allows the EA to sift and screen any chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern in England. Many pharmaceuticals are included on this list. Monitoring also takes place for a wide range of pharmaceuticals within the water environment using a semi-quantitative screening methodology.